Nikon® D3s review

The Nikon D3s is one of the flagship models in Nikon’s full frame DSLR lineup. The D3s was released in 2009 and it has been going strong ever since. There are a couple of models above the D3s, such as the Nikon D3x and the Nikon D4, but this camera can hold its own with all of the professional-grade DSLRs out there today. In this post we’ll look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the D3s.

Nikon D3s Advantages

The D3s is a heavy hitter when it comes to features. Here are some of the major advantages you’ll get with the D3s:

Full frame, high ISO sensor: The D3s sensor has 12.1 megapixels and an ISO range from 200–12800. This combination makes for high-quality images in almost any lighting situation. Most cameras would require a tripod in low-light situations, but the D3s has proven itself as the go-to option for handheld low-light shooting. We’re not saying you can shoot in complete darkness, but if there’s light around this camera is going to make the best out of it and your photos.

Video: The D3s was the first full frame Nikon to incorporate video. The video settings are just as customizable as the normal camera function, which makes the camera very versatile. You can change the aperture and ISO to fit your video needs depending on the situation.

Fast burst shooting: The D3s is well-equipped for all kinds of situations where you would need to shoot a lot of frames quickly. The camera can shoot 9 to 11 frames per second and can snap 48 frames in RAW mode. That’s a lot of high quality, large images in a row. Sports photographers and anyone else who needs a lot of photos in quick succession will love this feature.

Those are just a few of the high-end features you’ll get if you end up buying the D3s. Read on to find out some of the less desirable aspects of the camera.

Nikon D3s Disadvantages

The D3s is a great camera, bu it isn’t without some shortcomings.

Metering sensor: The metering sensor on the D3s has 1,005 pixels, which isn’t much compared to other models on the market. For example, the sensor on the D4, which replaced the D3s, has a whopping 91,000 pixels. This means the metering on the D3s might not be as accurate, which could cause you to spend more time correcting your images after the fact.

Shutter rating: The shutter on the D3s is rated for approximately 300,000 frames. That’s a lot of images, but if you’ve been shooting for a while you know how important longevity is for shutters. The D4 shutter is rated at 400,000, which is significantly more. If you take a lot of photos this might be a consideration to keep in mind.

We don’t have many issues with the Nikon D3s, as you can see from our short list of disadvantages. There are slight differences between the D3s, the D3x and the D4, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference. The Nikon D3s is a great camera that any pro would be happy to have in her bag.